Ex-All Blacks star: ‘Difference between Super Rugby and Tests is huge…South Africans gave us a taste’
Tawera Kerr-Barlow believes that Super Rugby is a weaker competition without the South African teams.
Former All Blacks scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow believes that Super Rugby is a weaker competition without the South African teams.
The 2015 World Cup winner is currently plying his trade with La Rochelle in the Top 14 and says that the South African sides would give New Zealand teams a ‘taste’ of international rugby when they were in the competition.
However, since they headed north to create the United Rugby Championship with Irish, Italian, Scottish and Welsh teams, Super Rugby lacks that edge which has impacted the All Blacks.
South Africa’s exit
Kerr-Barlow has also spoken highly of the level of competition in France’s Top 14 and hopes to extend his stay in the league despite his current contract expiring.
“Without the South African teams, it’s not the same competition,” Kerr-Barlow told French publication Sud Ouest.
“The difference between Super Rugby and Test rugby is huge and the South Africans would give us a taste for Test rugby because they are quite physical, strong, fast.
“Now, they don’t have that anymore, it’s not very good for the New Zealand teams. In France, there are physical, fast teams with a lot of talent.”
The scrum-half is set to depart La Rochelle at the end of the season with French international Nolann Le Garrec set to replace him at the club.
The veteran half-back confirmed that it would be his final season with Stade Rochelais but hopes to remain in the ‘best championship in the world’.
Staying in the Top 14
Kerr-Barlow arrived at La Rochelle in 2017 after featuring for the All Blacks against the British and Irish Lions and believes that the Top 14 has only got more competitive during his seven years in France.
“The goal is to win every game, if we can keep the momentum, that would be good,” he said.
“But the Top 14 is not easy, There is no easy game! When I arrived, maybe the last three teams in the championship were not very strong.
“Now, all the teams are, there is never a free game. I think it is the best championship in the world, it is a real challenge.”
Despite representing the All Blacks on 27 occasions, Kerr-Barlow technically qualifies to represent Australia after being born in Melbourne.
Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt has been reluctant to select overseas-based players but the scrum-half could return to Australia and potentially line up against the British and Irish Lions for a second time in his career.
However, he told Sud Ouest that he “wants to continue playing in the Top 14.”